Fish Farm Front Lines: Day 83

Musgamagw Dzawada’enuxw Cleansing Our Waters

November 27, 2017

For the past three months, Molina Dawson and Karissa Glendale (among others) have been bravely occupying a salmon farm placed in their people’s territory without their consent. Now they have to go to court.

On Friday November 17th, a group of community activists moved all structures previously built on Midsummer fish farm onto land within close proximity to the open net pens. This action was due to an agreement reached at the B.C. Supreme Court to adjourn the Injunction hearings by 30 days. The new Cedar Island camp location will allow wild salmon protectors to continue monitor fish farm operations on traditional waters.

Community members Molina Dawson (Musgamagw Dzawada’enuxw) & Karissa Glendale (‘Namgis) alongside various supporters are holding down the camp. These volunteers are working steady to make the camp welcoming and comfortable in the harsh winter weather. The camp is currently open to all supporters from the Musgamagw Dzawada’enuxw nation, as well as outside supporters acting under specific guidance from local organizers.

In addition to last Friday’s moving day, the occupiers visited the Marine Harvest Workers Camp. They witnessed cultural and archeological sites with large areas of exposed midden and numerous culturally modified trees. These sacred and historical sites are clearly being disturbed and disregarded by Marine Harvest and are of serious concern to the Musgamagw Dzawada’enuxw salmon protectors.

Locally, significant community support from stakeholders in the eco-tourism, sport, food and commercial fishing industries is building. On a broader scale, the movement continues to grow against open net-pen Atlantic Fish Farms across the coast. Despite many challenges, the energy at the camp is overwhelmingly positive and determined.